If you’ve searched for “rostering software,” chances are RosterElf showed up near the top. Plus, you’ve probably heard someone say: “It gets the job done.”
But in 2025, is “getting the job done” still enough?
With shift swaps getting more frequent and wage costs under pressure, teams need more than basic scheduling. They need tools that fit how they actually work.
That’s why we took a closer look at RosterElf:
- what it does well,
- where it stumbles,
- and what you might want instead (spoiler: Unrubble enters the chat).
Let’s break it down.
What is RosterElf?
RosterElf is an employee scheduling and workforce management software born in Australia back in 2010. It was created by Simon Ingleson, an entrepreneur who once ran a hospitality business and knew first-hand how painful staff rostering could get.
At its core, RosterElf helps businesses handle the messy middle between availability, scheduling, time tracking, and payroll management. Think fewer scheduling errors and holes in your roster.
What started as a rostering tool quickly evolved into a complete workforce management solution. Today, over 30,000 users (from cafes to childcare centers) trust it to keep labor costs in check and admin tasks off their plate.
RosterElf key features & highlights
RosterElf can handle tasks like tracking work hours and chasing payroll deadlines thanks to the following features:
Payroll integration
Manual input and rushed calculations? Still happening in 2025. RosterElf skips that drama. It links directly with payroll providers like Xero and MYOB. So once you’ve got approved timesheets, they’re already halfway to payday. Fewer mistakes and fewer Sunday-night spreadsheet marathons.
Attendance tracking
Time sheets on paper might still live in some back offices, but they won’t help you spot time theft or late arrivals. With digital clock-ins, you see the full picture. Employees clock in and out using mobile apps or tablets. There’s even face recognition and GPS, if that’s your thing.
Publish rosters
Send rosters without sending five follow-up texts. Once a schedule’s ready, you hit publish. Staff get pinged instantly: via mobile number, email or app. Whatever works. You can even drop shift notes to keep everyone on the same page (or shift).
AI-powered scheduling
RosterElf’s ‘Perfect Match’ scans your staff availability and skillsets to suggest who should work when. Think of it as smart scheduling without the guesswork. No more pin-the-shift-on-the-employee.
Previous rosters
Ever had déjà vu while building a roster? That’s because most schedules repeat - same people, same times. So why start from scratch? RosterElf lets you copy past rosters and drag and drop shifts. The faster you adjust rosters, the sooner you can move on.
Leave management
One wrong move, and you’ve rostered someone who’s on holiday in Fiji. RosterElf syncs leave requests straight into the schedule. Employees ask through the app, managers approve (or not), and payroll catches it all. No awkward “but I told you last month” moments.
Open shifts
Missing people? No problem. You can publish open shifts for staff to pick up - if they’re qualified and available. Managers still stay in charge, but the chasing game gets shorter. It’s a quiet nudge toward more flexible scheduling without handing over the reins.
Clock in
Employees clock in using a digital clock on their phone or tablet. You track employee hours as they happen, not days later.
RosterElf pricing analysis
RosterElf charges $5.00 AUD + GST per active employee each month. That’s it. No tiered plans, no locked features. Just a flat rate with everything included, assuming you hit the $25 minimum monthly spend.
They also tack on $0.05 per SMS, which makes sense if your team still relies on text alerts to view schedules. It’s a small add-on, but worth noting if you’re rostering dozens of shift workers daily.
And here’s the twist: pay yearly, and you save 28%. So if you’re the type to plan ahead (and your staff scheduling isn’t about to disappear), this might be the nudge to commit long-term.
It’s not common to see an all in one solution stick to a single price tag. No extra fees for features like drag and drop scheduling. If RosterElf adapts to your setup, you won’t be guessing what you’ll pay next month.
For small businesses, it’s a manageable cost. For medium sized businesses, it scales. The pricing model avoids the complexity that can sneak in with usage-based fees or locked integrations.
So... does this structure help you save time or reduce labour costs? That depends on how deep you go.
Overall, it’s transparent. Whether that’s the perfect solution for your team, or just good enough for now, is up to you.
RosterElf integrations
No one really dreams about payroll integrations until they’ve lost an afternoon retyping data into three different platforms. That’s where RosterElf draws a line. It connects with Xero and MYOB, meaning work hours and time clock records don’t have to hop through hoops to reach payroll. They’re already there.
The big idea? Cut out the back-and-forth. Sync employee availability and even staff onboarding info in one go. And if your accounting software isn’t Xero or MYOB? You can still export .CSV files for upload elsewhere. It's not flashy, but it works.
There’s also an API link between RosterElf and the Xero app store. It pushes timesheets and leave details directly into Xero.
And what about staying compliant with Australian labour rules? That’s where award interpretation comes into play, especially useful when swap shifts or overtime sneak into the week. The data handed over to payroll systems is already calculated.
If your team is spread across roles or industries, integration helps cut the admin noise. Managers spend less time fixing numbers and more time checking shift swaps or answering questions through in app chat.
Bottom line? These integrations are the silent kind. You don’t see them once they’re working, but you definitely notice when they aren’t. So the next time payroll feels oddly... smooth? You’ll know who to thank. Maybe not out loud, but still.
RosterElf pros & cons based on user reviews
Most reviews for RosterElf come from Google Reviews, where the tool has gathered a little over 100 ratings. On platforms like G2 or Capterra? Barely a trace.
So if you’re looking for feedback from SaaS die-hards, you might hit a wall. But real users, from cafes to childcare centers, have left their thoughts in Google’s comment boxes. And the feedback? Well, it’s a mix.
Here’s what stood out.
Pros of RosterElf
#1 Interface that “just works”
Several users highlight how easy it is to get things done, even for non-technical teams.
“The dashboard and app are so easy to use.” – James King
“The platform is intuitive, reliable, and makes managing our rostering so much easier across the team.” – Tayla Bangs
#2 Strong Aussie-based support
The RosterElf team, especially Sean and Jaydon, get a lot of love for quick replies and hands-on help.
“Sean and the team are absolute weapons.” – Darcy Wood
“Thanks Jaydon for patiently guiding us through RosterElf.” – Aaron Sangalli
#3 Payroll integrations that ease the pain
Xero and MYOB integration seems to be a win for bookkeepers and managers.
“We switched to RosterElf and are so pleased we did. Their integration with Xero is faultless.” – Ian Corney
“The reports are amazing for what a bookkeeper needs.” – Leanne Shieffelbein
#4 Time clock & shift tracking
Features like digital clock-in and approved timesheets help keep an eye on employee hours.
“The time clock feature is a game-changer.” – Charlotte James
Cons of RosterElf
#1 Rocky product updates
New features don’t always land well. One recent update frustrated longtime users.
“It has made changing availability incredibly difficult, and there are more issues. Not sure why they made these changes when it was good before.” – Sarah Stephen
#2 Bugs that won’t budge
Some users report that parts of the app freeze or don’t load at all for staff.
“4 of 12 of my staff members are unable to use the app as it is just a frozen screen.” – Emmersyn Rea
#3 Poor follow-up after sign-up
A few reviews call out a gap between the sales pitch and post-sale support.
“Sales team was super eager to help sign me up but I have received minimal aid since signing up.” – Emmersyn Rea
#4 Cancellation confusion
Closing an account isn’t always straightforward, especially if you miss the fine print.
“They closed it but didn’t tell me I had to deactivate my employees... Still got charged.” – D Armstrong
#5 Not flexible for every business model
Some teams found that RosterElf doesn’t fully adapt to their setup.
“The product was not flexible to be adjusted to work in the end.” – Laura Hall
#6 Limited presence on comparison sites
RosterElf may be popular among Australian businesses, but if you rely on G2 or Capterra to compare tools, you’re out of luck. Visibility is low, and benchmarking is harder.
RosterElf offers helpful tools, but don’t assume it’s plug-and-play for everyone. It might work like magic for some, but others have found the spell wears off. Your mileage may vary.
What to pick instead of RosterElf? We know the answer
If RosterElf feels like it almost fits, but something keeps slipping through the cracks, then it’s time to look sideways.
Unrubble doesn’t pretend to be magic. It’s just built for the mess real teams deal with: shift swaps that change by the hour, wage costs creeping up, and admin work that steals your afternoon.
So what makes Unrubble the better pick?
Shift swaps that make sense
With Unrubble, employees can request shift swaps directly in the app. You get a full view of availability. It keeps the chaos from bubbling over.
AI scheduling that learns
RosterElf has a Perfect Match tool. Sounds nice. But Unrubble’s AI scheduler goes further - it tracks trends, considers availability, past rosters, even employee roles and tags. It doesn’t just fill a shift, it understands your rhythm.
More control over availability
Set full-day availability or narrow it down to time slots. All color-coded in the calendar. Green means ready, red means no. Simple, fast, visual.
Real-time timesheets
Unrubble’s time tracking software runs live. No “submit at the end of week” kind of thing. Employees clock in via mobile or browser, and data’s ready for payroll without the back-and-forth.
Face recognition? Yes. Spoof-proof? Also yes.
Mobile Time Clock comes with anti-spoofing tech. Not a joke. Try faking your login with a photo and see what happens.
Full PTO control: vacation, sick leave, WFH, business trips
Unrubble doesn’t stop at holiday requests. Staff availability and absences are always in sync with your schedules.
A pricing model that doesn’t trap you
No minimum packages. If you’ve got 6 staff, you pay for 6. That’s it. Start at $1 per user/month. RosterElf, by comparison? You’re locked into a $25 minimum spend, whether your team is big or tiny.
Free onboarding and live in-app chat
Need help setting it up? No call queues. No hidden “setup fees.” Just in-app chat and free onboarding that actually helps.
Integrates seamlessly with payroll systems
Unrubble fits into your stack without complaint. Export data, connect to payroll, and move on. No CSV gymnastics.
📌 TL;DR: Why Unrubble over RosterElf?
- You need more flexible scheduling tools
- You want real-time visibility over work hours
- You’d rather track time accurately than clean up mistakes later
- You’re done with clunky setups and fixed pricing traps
- You value employee engagement that doesn't cost extra
Rostering can be magically simple with the right tool
RosterElf might cover the basics.
But if you’re running a tight ship or trying to stop leaks before they cost you, Unrubble is built to fit without forcing you to adjust your workflow.
So don't wait and give Unrubble a free try right now. You won't regret it, that's for sure.
